Valencia 2 - Olympique Marseille 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Marchena (Pellegrino 86'), Carboni; Baraja, Albelda; Rufete (Aimar 64'), Angulo (Sissoko 82'), Vicente; Mista. 4-2-3-1.
Marseille: Barthez; Ferreira, Beye, Hemdani, Méïté, Dos Santos; Marlet, Flamini (Batlles 71'), N'Diaye (Celestini 84'), Meriem (Gavanon 45'); Drogba. 5-4-1.

Goals:
1-0. 45. Vicente (penalty). After Mista brought down by Barthez in the area.
2-0. 58. Mista. Controlled cross by Vicente and fired shot wide of Gavanon.

Valencia have done it! Rafa Benítez's side became the first Spanish club to win the UEFA cup in 18 years after defeating Olympique Marseille in Gothenborg. Once again it was a competent, if not particularly pretty performance from the Chés, who went close in the opening minutes when Fabien Barthez pushed away Albelda's deflected shot, but could have gone behind a few minutes later when Marlet headed over with only the keeper to beat, and Meriem and Beye both put efforts just wide.

The turning point came though on the stroke of half time when Barthez crashed into Mista as the striker collected a Curro Torres cross and pushed the ball past him, leaving referee Pierluigi Collina no alternative but to award a penalty and send the French keeper off. Vicente converted the kick, and the game was almost over.

Valencia took the initiative after the break, Vicente going close after two set-piece free kicks. And soon afterwards Mista added a second goal, controlling Vicente's cross on a rapid breakaway to beat number two keeper Gavanon (and take the man of the match award into the bargain).

After that it was the usual gritty defence, with Cañizares punching out a Drogba free kick and doing well to save a fierce shot from N'Diaye, and Marchena putting in a crucial tackle on Drogba as he tried to break free in front of goal. After two defeats in European finals Valencia had their trophy, and it will sit nicely next to the league title which they won a few days ago.